Rememberance
By King of Malta
“Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia read softly, the words themselves coming from the first letter that Twilight Sparkle had written her following the return of Nightmare Moon and the revival of her sister, Luna. How many years had that been? ‘Close to a century,’ she thought wistfully, silently cursing the perfect memory that came with nigh eternal divinity, ‘How time has passed but, this last century has passed ever so slowly…’
Equestria and Celestia were in mourning for the loss of one of their brightest Unicorns and dearest of companions through the passage of life. It was almost as if day had merged with the night, Celestia had ordered the bright banners of gold to reflect the sun be replaced with black banners to represent her sorrow and that Equestria should contemplate the special light that had disappeared. Celestia knew though that Luna would not take offense from it because, even the sun seemed to pale and glow dimmer reflecting how Celestia herself felt over the passing of her most favorite student. She would never admit it but, she was silently happy that Twilight Sparkle who had once had been devoted only to herself and studies, who had then blossomed into the best friend ever possible for five other ponies, who had also been equally devoted to her Princess. “She held out,” Celestia softly whispered as tears fell from her cheeks to the precious letter of her student “She held out for me. She delayed her passing for so many years after her friends had gone to comfort me.”
Try as hard as she might no matter how much Celestia read the hundreds of letters her student had sent over the years the passing of her student would not be healed in her heart. Standing up from the mound of letters around her, Celestia cantered to her private desk using her magic to sift through one of the drawers and pull out a particular scroll from the many others. It was one she knew well but, had not used since Twilight had traveled to Ponyville for the first time. Except for the Parasprite Incident, rather than see all of Equestria devoured she had used it to warn herself a week earlier to prepare for the parasprites and delay her arrival in Ponyville by another hour. Opening the scroll she read the title “’Starswirl the Bearded’s Time Travel Spell’, oh Starswirl, you were my second most cunning student.”
Mentally clamping hard on even older memories then the ones of Twilight she quickly cast the spell the magic surrounding her. Even though it tore at her heart to remember she concentrated on a night years and years ago, the night of Twilight’s arrival at the castle. The magic of the spell surrounded her, closing in on her and flowing through every fiber of her being before with a blinding flash of light she found herself in the same room she had left. The same room she had left yet, this room did not contain any of Twilight’s letters and it did contain not only a very young Twilight, but a slightly younger Celestia. Past Celestia smiled up at her future self, not phased by her appearance “I was wondering if you would show up tonight.”
“Then that can only mean one thing,” Future Celestia said with a smile and a wink, her eyes dropping down to the sleeping form of a filly aged Twilight Sparkle. The younger Twilight nuzzled up to Past Celestia, causing her future self’s heart to tighten in her chest “She will be worth teaching and being with day and night.”
“I had a feeling that she would be something special.” Past Celestia replied, leaning down to gently nuzzle Twilight’s sleeping form before, using her magic to ever so gently pick up Twilight and step back from her bed.
“That feeling I think will grow into something…magical” the future Celestia whispered as she settled down on the bed herself, using her magic to take Twilight from her past-self and lay with her young pupil. Even though she had just lied to her past-self that she was from tomorrow night and not many years away Celestia knew that it was worth it to save herself from the gnawing thoughts of her new pupil’s death. Just feeling Twilight sent a shock of motherly love and devotion through Celestia that she had been unable to fulfill for some time. Sensing the light beating heart of Twilight as she slept with innocent dreams made the emotional burden of Twilight’s passing disappear like it was never there for Celestia. Letting out a soft sigh she began to nestle against Twilight Sparkle carefully wrapping the sleeping filly in one of her wings when her past-self spoke as she tip-hoofed towards the chamber’s doors.
“I will take care of my sister’s night but, I have to ask. Is there anything tomorrow I should be forewarned about?” winking as she backed out the door.
“Oh my yes,” Celestia said with a soft giggle to herself “When Twilight insists to be left alone so that she can practice the levitation spell be sure to return after thirteen minutes to contain the small fire, lightly chide her, and forgive her with a hug.”
“Is that so? I will sure to do just that. Good night and sleep dreams. If I put just enough magic into Starswirl’s spell then I will be gone by the first light of dawn.”
“Good night Celestia” Celestia said to herself as her past-self closed the door. Now alone with the young mare she settled down for a peaceful sleep.
“Is that so?” Celestia spoke softly from behind the doors, just quiet enough that not even her future-self would be able to hear her. She would not be able to understand why or experience the feelings until she actually lived them but, walking away she could not help as she cried and felt sadness for the years to come and the eventual passing of her newly, faithful student Twilight Sparkle.
“That sounds just like…today.”
